Bringing a Sensory Friendly Spring Fling Dream to live!
Crystal and her team at Community Autism Resources (C.A.R.) in Taunton, MA, work hard every day to ensure children with autism receive the services and education they need. They not only provide educational programs for students and parents, but they also advocate for children with autism to access programs within their schools. Beyond that, they offer support programs, resources, along with events that help people with autism truly experience life.
For Crystal, working at C.A.R. isn’t just a job or even a career. It’s a way to give back to a group of people who gave so much to her.
When her son, Jayden, was diagnosed with autism, she had no idea where to turn or how to get him the help he needed. She was pointed in the direction of C.A.R., and with their help, she was able to get Jayden into programs that supported his growth and development. Along the way, she met caring professionals and parents who helped teach her how to care for her son, advocate for him, and sometimes simply offered a shoulder to lean on when things got tough. She found her village. So when a position opened at C.A.R., she decided to give back and help other families the way she had been helped.
Crystal met our very own Terry Teixeira because Terry served as Jayden’s Speech-Language Pathologist for almost 15 years. In 2023, Terry reached out to ask about having Why Not A Pear help with an upcoming event, C.A.R.’s Annual Family Fun Day.
After seeing C.A.R. in action, our team knew we wanted to learn more. We invited Crystal to one of our meetings to share her story and explain the work C.A.R. does throughout our community. She explained that much of their funding comes from the Department of Developmental Services and other government grants. While that support covers many of their programs, they still rely heavily on donations and private grants to fund additional services, parent support programs, and community events.
Why Events Matter
The community events C.A.R. hosts are just as important as the educational programming they provide. These events help autistic individuals build social connections while also giving parents opportunities to network and support one another. They create experiences that many autistic individuals may not otherwise have access to.
For many people with autism, loud music, flashing lights, large crowds, and sensory overload can make traditional events or even simple outings to restaurants and more difficult or impossible to attend. That’s why the team at C.A.R. works hard to ensure their events are welcoming, inclusive, and accessible for everyone.
So What Happened Next?
As Crystal shared her story, our team quickly saw that she had more than a personal connection to the cause. She had a true passion for helping others. She mentioned a dream she had been carrying for years: creating a prom-style dance for autistic young adults and adults.
Many of the individuals she works with, including her own son, had missed out on attending their school prom. While prom is often viewed as a milestone experience, the loud music, flashing lights, packed dance floors, and overwhelming sensory environment can make it inaccessible for many autistic students.
Crystal dreamed of changing that. She envisioned an autism-friendly event featuring soft lighting instead of flashing lights, a smaller crowd, the ability to bring a caregiver, family member, or friend for support, and a Silent Disco where attendees could control their own volume and take breaks whenever needed.
Our team at Why Not A Pear loved the idea. We immediately committed funding to help bring the event to life. We helped secure a venue and, on the day of the event, volunteered wherever we were needed. We assisted with the photo booth, and one of our team members, who is also a photographer, captured the evening so attendees would have memories to cherish forever.
A Dream Comes to Life
Since then, we’ve had the opportunity to sponsor two Spring Fling events and can’t wait to support many more. What started as a dream became an annual event that people now look forward to every year.
During the first Spring Fling, an older woman with autism sat watching the dance floor filled with smiling faces and happy dancers. She began to cry. She shared that she had never attended a school dance, prom, wedding reception, or any event with a DJ because the music and environment had always been too overwhelming for her. That moment alone was enough to show why this event mattered.
Giving her, and so many others, the opportunity to participate in an experience that most people take for granted has been incredibly powerful.
As Crystal puts it:
“The Spring Fling is a wonderful opportunity for autistic adults to celebrate in a safe, comfortable, fun, and inclusive environment. An event where everyone can be their authentic selves, surrounded by respect, compassion, understanding, support, and so much love.”
She saw that joy in her son as he attended and danced the night away. Her team has seen it in countless individuals who they work with every day!
The impact of C.A.R. reaches far beyond a single event. Through their programs, advocacy, resources, and community partnerships, they continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of autistic individuals and their families every day.
When you support Why Not A Pear, this is just one example of the lives you’re helping to impact. Your support goes further than you may ever realize, and we couldn’t help make dreams like this come true without you. Thank you for helping us make a difference.
